Dozens of Ethiopians on Saudi Arabia’s death row appeal for international attention
Dozens of Ethiopian nationals are awaiting execution on death row in Saudi Arabia, with several inmates reaching out to international media to share their accounts in what campaigners describe as a largely overlooked chapter in the kingdom’s justice system. A recent BBC investigation featured testimony from a number of prisoners who say they want their stories heard beyond Saudi borders.
A plea from death row
According to the report, the Ethiopian prisoners contacted the BBC to recount the circumstances that led to their convictions and to appeal for diplomatic or legal intervention. While specific charges vary across individual cases, advocacy groups have long argued that foreign nationals in Saudi Arabian custody often face language barriers, limited access to legal representation, and consular support that can be inadequate.
Migrant workers and the Saudi justice system
Migrant workers from East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia make up a significant share of Saudi Arabia’s private sector workforce, particularly in domestic service, construction, and security roles. Human rights organisations have documented cases in which migrant workers have been sentenced to death for offences related to murder, drug trafficking, or other capital crimes, sometimes under circumstances that activists say raise due process concerns. Saudi authorities maintain that capital sentences are carried out only after thorough judicial review and that defendants are afforded legal representation.
Diplomatic and humanitarian dimensions
The plight of Ethiopians on death row comes against a backdrop of broader diplomatic engagement between Addis Ababa and Riyadh, with labour migration serving as a key link between the two countries. Ethiopian officials have periodically intervened on behalf of nationals facing legal proceedings in the kingdom, securing pardons or sentence reductions in some cases. Campaigners argue that greater transparency, consistent consular access, and fair trial guarantees remain essential for protecting the rights of citizens jailed abroad.
A broader debate over the death penalty
Saudi Arabia continues to carry out executions for a range of offences, drawing regular criticism from international human rights bodies. While the kingdom has introduced some reforms to its penal code over recent years, the application of capital punishment remains a point of contention with Western governments and rights groups. The voices of prisoners awaiting execution offer a rare public window into a system that operates largely behind closed doors, and renewed attention to individual cases can sometimes tip the balance between a death sentence and a commuted punishment.
As diplomatic and humanitarian organisations review the cases highlighted in the recent reporting, the stories of those on death row underscore the high personal stakes for migrant workers navigating foreign legal systems far from home.
Source: BBC News — read the original report.
